“Well, the hygiene at home is a bit lacking, you know I was single before.”
Li Wu Wei didn't feel embarrassed, he was just that kind of guy, a genuine, kind, and pure sunshine boy.
“It’s okay, I love doing housework.”
Qin Huai Ru was truly diligent. Rolling up her sleeves, she first tidied up the house, then wiped the table and swept the floor.
Soon, the house felt completely refreshed.
Following that, she carried a large basin and took the dirty clothes to the courtyard to wash.
As for Li Wu Wei, he naturally lay flat. Since he had returned to the courtyard after dinner, he took a stool to the courtyard, sat there smoking and drinking tea, and casually picked up a book to pass the time.
How harmonious this scene was, just like he imagined. A man should live this way, otherwise why would he get married.
The residents of the backyard saw this and couldn't help but point and talk.
“Li Wu Wei is being unreasonable. How can a new wife be made to wash clothes on her first day? He's sitting there resting, he doesn't even know how to fire the stove or cook.”
“I think Qin Huai Ru was deceived. Li Wu Wei bought a bicycle, he must be out of money. Maybe he even spent his entire salary on it.”
“I feel sorry for Qin Huai Ru, it’s heartbreaking.”
Some men sighed, lamenting that fate was unfair, allowing Li Wu Wei, such a scoundrel, to be successful and happy.
Xu Da Mao saw this scene from the corner and couldn’t help but beat his chest and stamp his feet. If he had known that Qin Huai Ru was so easy to deceive and willing to work so hard, he should have acted impulsively and taken her for himself.
“Sigh!”
Suddenly, a sigh came from beside him. Xu Da Mao turned his head and saw the figure, and couldn’t help but say in a low voice, “Sha Zhu, why are you in the backyard?”
“I came to see the old lady.”
Sha Zhu said that, but he stared straight at Qin Huai Ru who was washing clothes, and at Li Wu Wei who was smoking, drinking tea, and reading like an old man. He felt as if he were losing his mind.
Even though Qin Huai Ru was nimble with her hands, it still took a long time to wash the clothes. It was winter, her hands were red with cold, but her face was filled with a happy smile.
When the clothes were hung up, everyone saw that they were all Li Wu Wei’s. How lazy could he be?
“Can’t take it anymore, at least Li Wu Wei should wash the dirty clothes he changed out of.”
“Look how cold Qin Huai Ru is, her hands are numb. Isn't he afraid that the new wife will leave on her first day?”
“Back when I was looking for a partner, I cleaned the house up beautifully, how could Li Wu Wei be so unscrupulous.”
Li Wu Wei, who was reading, also heard the residents’ discussion. He could handle it, and Qin Huai Ru could handle it too.
He knew how tough Qin Huai Ru was, this housework was nothing, just basic operations.
But he still said, “Huai Ru, you've worked hard, it’s different having a woman in the house.”
“Brother Li, I'll take care of all the housework from now on.”
Qin Huai Ru’s face was full of happiness, she was happy to do chores for her man.
Besides, every household is like this, housework is women's work.
“Good, good! It's almost done, let's get some rest.”
Li Wu Wei carried his stool back into the house, it was freezing outside, he couldn’t focus on reading anymore.
“Okay!”
Qin Huai Ru followed him into the house, looking a little shy, then closed the door and locked it.
Initially, they could still see their silhouettes through the light outside, but soon the curtains were drawn.
“Tsk, shameless.”
Xu Da Mao, who was washing his face with a basin, felt completely disheartened.
“Li Wu Wei is shameless, he doesn’t do any housework.”
Sha Zhu stood there, dumbfounded, staring at the Li family’s house.
After a long time, Xu Da Mao said numbly, “Sha Zhu, I’m going back. I’ll find a beautiful wife too, I can’t just watch Li Wu Wei be the only one who’s successful.”
Sha Zhu clenched his fists, didn’t respond, and silently turned to leave, feeling slightly better.
There were still people watching the commotion in the courtyard, but they couldn't do anything. It was their business.
Inside the house, Li Wu Wei laid flat and soon fell asleep.
When he woke up, he smelled the aroma of food. Having a wife made a difference, there was a sense of life in the house.
“Brother Li, you’re awake. I saw that there were only two steamed buns and cabbage in the kitchen, so I steamed some buns and stir-fried some cabbage.
Do you like it? If not, I’ll go out and buy you breakfast, the five yuan you gave me last time, I still have over four yuan left.”
Qin Huai Ru was frugal, she could eat steamed buns, but her man needed to eat well, so he had the energy to work.
“Hmm, let’s make do for now, from now on, we’ll only eat white bread.
I’ll give you another thirty yuan. To the outside world, you say that I give you three yuan as allowance every month. The people in the courtyard know you have no money, so they won't try to take advantage of you.”
Li Wu Wei was just getting up, Qin Huai Ru came over to help him put on his clothes, and even squatted down to help him put on his socks and shoes, he really had found the right wife.
Then she brought him hot water to wash his face and brush his teeth. By the time he sat down at the table, the meal was ready.
“No, why did you only steam three steamed buns?”
Li Wu Wei could eat two for breakfast, those two weren’t enough.
“I have a small appetite, one is enough for me.”
Qin Huai Ru said, picking up the steamed bun, she broke off half, worried that her man wouldn’t have enough to eat.
“Come on, we’re not short of money. We can pretend to be poor to the outside world, but when we close the door, we should eat well.”
Even though Li Wu Wei didn’t plan on having feelings with Qin Huai Ru, he had married her after all, he should at least feed her.
“One and a half each. You steam some more for lunch. I’ll bring food and vegetables back tonight.”
He wouldn’t let her refuse, he divided the breakfast and watched Qin Huai Ru eat it before nodding.
Then he rode his bike to work. He worked six days a week, even during the Spring Festival he only had three days off. He really couldn’t do this kind of work anymore.
But he couldn’t quit. As a fine young man like him, it was a crime to have a job but not go to work.
So he didn’t want to go to work, the only way was to have Qin Huai Ru take over his job, there was no other way.
“Sha Zhu, good morning!”
Li Wu Wei was riding his bike, he met Sha Zhu walking in the alley.
“You’re shameless!”
Sha Zhu glanced at him, hoping that Li Wu Wei would fall and break his leg, paralyzed for life, and wouldn’t be able to take advantage of such a good wife.
Li Wu Wei smiled and continued forward, he saw someone he knew.
“Hi, Xu Da Mao, good morning!”
“Li Wu Wei, you…”
Xu Da Mao turned his head and saw Li Wu Wei riding his bike, he was filled with envy. How come Li Wu Wei, a factory worker, had a beautiful wife and a bike.
He was a film projectionist, though still an apprentice, but he shouldn't be without anything.
Li Wu Wei didn’t even reply, he quickly rode away, and soon encountered someone familiar from the courtyard.
“Jia Dong Xu, good morning!”
“Li Wu Wei, you, you just wait…!”
Jia Dong Xu saw his rival riding away on a bike and was so angry that he almost vomited blood.
Especially because he had heard about Li Wu Wei’s achievements, the creaking sound was constantly ringing in his ears…